Chapter 8 - THE TRUTH ABOUT HER BIRTH
Mabel arrived at the clinic under federal protection.
Dr. Shaw was sitting in an interrogation room.
His expensive suit was wrinkled.
His hands were shaking.
Mabel sat across from him.
“You said my daughter wasn't supposed to survive.”
He closed his eyes.
“I was ordered to terminate the pregnancy.”
Mabel's blood ran cold.
“By Richard?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the embryo transfer failed.”
Mabel stared.
“What?”
“The original embryo was damaged.”
“Then how did my daughter survive?”
Dr. Shaw looked at her.
“Because someone replaced it.”
Mabel's eyes widened.
“Who?”
He hesitated.
“Elias.”
Mabel couldn't speak.
“He discovered what Richard was doing.”
“So he replaced the embryo?”
“No.”
Dr. Shaw shook his head.
“He stole another sample.”
Mabel frowned.
“Whose?”
Dr. Shaw looked at her.
“Your mother’s.”
Mabel froze.
“My mother?”
“Your mother had preserved genetic material from your childhood medical records.”
“What did he do with it?”
“He created a new embryo.”
Mabel stared.
“And implanted it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Richard wanted a child connected to the Carmichael bloodline.”
Mabel's hands trembled.
“So my daughter is…”
“Biologically connected to your family.”
“But who is her father?”
Dr. Shaw looked down.
“The real Flynn Vance.”
Mabel closed her eyes.
Everything was finally clear.
Her daughter was not a weapon.
She was a child caught inside a war between adults.
Mabel stood.
“You helped them.”
Dr. Shaw nodded.
“I was afraid.”
“You almost killed my daughter.”
“I know.”
“Why tell me now?”
He reached into his pocket.
A small recording device.
“Because Richard recorded everything.”
Mabel pressed play.
Richard's voice filled the room.
“If the baby survives, Mabel must remain unaware of the true arrangement.”
Another voice answered.
Elias.
“What if she finds out?”
“Then you will handle her.”
Mabel's heart broke.
She stopped the recording.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she asked:
“Where is my daughter?”
“At the safe house.”
“Take me there.”
Outside, rain began falling.
When Mabel reached the safe house, she opened the door.
Her daughter was asleep in a white bassinet.
Mabel walked over and touched her tiny hand.
The baby immediately wrapped her fingers around Mabel’s.
Mabel smiled through tears.
“No matter what they planned,” she whispered, “you are mine.”
A shadow appeared behind her.
Flynn.
The real Flynn.
He stood quietly.
“She looks like your mother.”
Mabel smiled.
“She does.”
Flynn looked at the baby.
“I want to be part of her life.”
Mabel studied him.
“You'll have to earn it.”
He nodded.
“I will.”
Then Elias appeared in the doorway.
Mabel turned.
His face was exhausted.
“I won't ask you to forgive me.”
“Good.”
“I only want to tell you one thing.”
“What?”
“I never intended to control the trust.”
Mabel waited.
“I intended to destroy it.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“Because I discovered Richard had planned to use your daughter to transfer the entire fortune into an offshore foundation.”
Mabel’s eyes widened.
“He would have taken everything.”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
“I wanted to make sure he got nothing.”
Mabel looked at him.
“You could have told me.”
“I know.”
She looked down at her daughter.
“You don't get another chance to lie.”
“I understand.”
Mabel nodded.
“Then tell the truth.”
Elias sat down.
And for the next three hours, he told her everything.
Every secret.
Every mission.
Every betrayal.
Every moment he had almost left.
And every reason he stayed.
When he finished, Mabel looked at him.
“I don't forgive you.”
“I know.”
“But I believe you.”
For Elias, that was enough.
May you like
Outside, the rain stopped.
And for the first time, Mabel realized the war was almost over.
